The heart monitor beeped in the background, the only sound that pierced the hushed atmosphere of the room, daring to remind the inhabitants of the delicate situation. Arthur paced nervously, unable to stay in one spot for long. He paced the room, sat down and was soon back up again, taking another slow lap around the room. Worry etched deep in his face, the British man completely controlled by his emotions could not for the life of him stay still. His partner, Francis, sat next to the hospital bed, one hand gently holding the hand of his son, occasionally moving his thumb over the back of it. The other remained motionless on his lap. Neither had spoken since they had arrived nearly two hours ago.
Arthur nearly jumped when there was a knock at the door, both men turning their gaze to the door. The door opened, light from the hallway brightening the room, intruding on the present gloom. The doctor that had been in charge of their son walked in, face emotionless as she came to bear her news. She seemed to hesitate before clearing her throat, looking between the two to make eye contact before speaking.
"He suffered some serious head trauma in the accident. I was told the airbag on the passenger window failed to inflate, which explains why the damage is so severe. The MRI revealed swelling in the brain, and what appeared to be some minor bleeding. Due to the location, we are confident the bleeding has stopped, but another MRI will be performed so we can be sure."
The doctor paused, letting her information sink in. She had dealt with situations like this before, so she understood how hard it can be for others to take this type of news.
"With the current information, we are unable to make an accurate diagnosis, but we are sure that your son's coma is caused by these injuries. We will continue to monitor him closely, but he is nearing his six hours window. While I remain hopefully, it does not look as if he will wake before then."
The silence returned, once again coating the room. Only one dared to break it.
"What happens after that?"
Francis asked quietly, just above a mumble. Arthur looked slightly surprised to hear his voice, eye slipping from his son up to the doctor to hear her answer.
"Then we wait. After six hours the chances of waking up without any complications decreases. Once he hits that mark, then our course of treatment will shift. The main goal will be to sustain life, rather than regain consciousness. At that point, it is up to your son and how he heals as to when he will wake up."
Her words lingered in the air, the doctor standing her ground for any questions the two may have. None came. She waited patiently, understanding how hard it could be for a parent to take in the news. That their child was lying in a hospital bed, unable to respond to them.
"Thank you."
Arthur choked out, glad his voice hadn't cracked as he spoke. The doctor gave a nod before leaving the room, closing the door behind her. Once more, the room quieted until only the heart monitor made a sound. The constant beeping that reminded the distraught parents of their son's condition and the horrible event that led to it.
It, however, also gave them hope. Hope that he would wake up, open his eyes, and smile. Smile like he always did.
Hello everyone. Thank you for reading. This is the first Fic I have actually published, so please forgive any mistakes.
Written as a belated Birthday/early Christmas present for a friend of mine. I will be continuing once I finish the next chapter.
A rating or a review would be much appreciated as well as any comments, criticisms (constructive please), or recommendations.